Sheet separating



Sept. l, 1936. R. KLEMM 2,052,632

SHEET SEPARATING Filed June 15, 1931 e sheets-sheet 1 Sept. 1`, 1.936. R KLEMM y 2,052,632

SHEET SEPARATING Filed J'une 15, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. l, 1936. R, KLEMM l 2,052,632

` SHEET lSEPARATING Filed June 15,v 1951 e sheets-sheet 3 Sept. l, 1936. R. KLEMM SHEET SEPARATING Filed'June` 15, 19251 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 1, 1936. R. KLEMM 2,052,632

SHEET SEPARATING Filed June 15, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 1, 1936. R- KLEMM 2,052,632

SHEET SEPARATING Filed June 15, 1931 e sheets-sheet 6 Patented Sept. 1, 1936Y PATENT OFFICE SHEET SEPABATING Rudolf Klemm, Leipzig-Plagwitz, Germany, assignor to Gebruder Brehmer, Leipzig-Plagwitz, Germany, a German irm Application June 15, 1931, SerialNo. 544,622

' In` Germany November 1l, 1930 3s claims.

The present invention relates to the separation, by mechanical means, of individual sections, folded sheets, book-leaves or the like from a stack.

In accordance with the method of this invention the separation of the outer unit of a stack is effected 'with the aid of mechanical means passing the edge of the sheet or the like through an opening provided in a sheet-separating member, which latter is moved in a plane adjacent to the plane of the sheet to be separated.

In order to carryv this method into effect, I

may provide an adjustable stack container `which is arranged to support a stack of folded sheets, for

example, in a preferably inclined position. One wall of the container adjacent to and preferably parallel to the plane of the outer unit of the stack is adapted to reciprocate, as desired, in order to separate the outer unit from the stack, in a manner to be hereinafter described. An opening is provided in the movable wall or separating member which latter may comprise bars or lingers with or without a suitable frame to form a grid and spaced to provide the opening above referred to. The separating member, which is reciprocated from the main drive by suitable timing means, is adjustable tothe sizeof the units of the stack to be handled and is adapted to exe tend beyond the outer edges of the stack.

Suction members and sheet tensionilm members which may be similar to those described in my prior application Serial No. 486,7 56, led Octo.-

ber 6, 1930, or of any construction convenient for the purpose, are associated with the sheet separating member in order to draw the requisite edge of the outer sheet through the opening in the separating member.

. the size of the stack to be handled. Suitably guided fingers or retaining members are provided to engage the upper and lower edges ofthe stack during the separation of the outer sheet fromthe remainder of the stack. 'Ihe component parts of the mechanism are actuated in timed rel lationship and suitable conveying means may be' provided, if desired, to feed the separated sheet to further sheet handling means.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: If the units of the stack are to be separated 'from The suctioning andi sheet ,tensioning members are convenientlyA mounted so as to be ladjusted in accordance with.

of the opening provided in the separating member is above the upper edge of the stack, that is to say, until the opening registers with the upper edge of the stack. The suction and sheet ten' sioning members are then caused to pass through y the opening in the sheet separating member to engage the upper edge of the'outer unit of the stack and so draw the upper edge of the sheet through the opening. The upper retaining iinger then passes behind the bent edge of the outer sheet and engages the upper edge of the stack to retain it in position. The separating member isthen moved in a downward direction and so causes the separated sheet to travel through the opening in the separating member. Immediately before the lower edge of the opening registers with the lower edge of the stack, the lower retaining finger swingsY away from the stack to release the loweredge of the sheet, which latterthen completes its separation from the stack by travelling through the opening in the separating member while the lower retaining member.

now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevationalview of the improved sheet-separating mechanism.

Fig. 2 is'a view of the' mechanism looking in they direction of the arrow `A (Fig. 1).

Fig. 3 shows details of the sheet-engaging and separating members with the suctionmembers shown engaging the upperedge of the outermost sheet of the stack.

Fig. 4 is a corresponding view to Fig. 3, showing the relative positions of the sheet engaging and separating members when the Aupper edge of the outermost sheetis bent away from the stack.

Fig. 5 shows the relative positions of the. sheet engaging and separating members when the outermost vsheet is completely separated from the Stack.

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 5, showing the separated Vsheet 'about to be deposited upon further sheet 'conveying means.

Fig. 'lis a side elevational view of a modied 35- 5 is open latftl'ie upper inclined side thereof at which sections-2- -rest in afcontainer-I in an inclined pesitienvitn the operi edges s of the sheets underneath and supported on the lower surface 5 of the container. Corresponding to this arranger. ment of the sheets the sucker members 4 are.

located at the-top of the latter and 'thestaek support or lower supporting surfacezfof the container is adjustable according to the siz'e of the sheets 2. The container I is limited at the sides by the retaining bars G axid above by the bars 'i (Fig. 1). The side bars'are mutually ad cam'32 mounted on the drive shaft I1, a pivoted a straight line movement vertical to the plane M the sheet-separator and also anV oscillating.

justable in order to receive sheets or sections of any desired height and, further, inlorder to'` bring, the stack into the Acorrect ,position for tnejeperiitiibrrw lie-performed. rnejreteining bars" i I'i a.ie"'rigidly `Iiiied f to determine the POSif- J tion fof the folded edges of 'the'sectiom relative to 'thesheet Ase'pa'ri'iltin'g mechanism and the ad-v justment ofthe lowersteek-support 5 is efreeted by means ofaha'nd wheel 8. 'lfhe iatteris rotetebry mounted on a bracket attached to the, frame of' the' machine and is threaii e d to engage a' threaded spindle 9 which is 'adaptedto support. upona suitably shaped 'bracket Se. the stack-support 5'2- 'I h'e complete stack container is formed by the 'stack' support @me lateral retaining bars' S," upper retaining and' movable' retaining member liFlg'. 1) I, The ,container so formed sheet ser'ii'tifitoi"` andl consists 'of' a' rectangular wf frame Il (Fig. 2) on the horizontal sides of which tnejiisr'eiiei' barshere matices.4 rhese bers fr -are arranged inolposed series having -their free.

ends s'pacedaparttb'forni aitransverse slot L3 i-n-t initiated by the crankls (Filg. i) ediiistably se-' 501curedfto'a-cra`nkfdisc`25 whichl ls mounted on a f ment I9, which is adapted tov` engage the toothed wheelA 20 (Figs: 1 and 2); "Ihelatter member is Il u n'ecting rod IB bovary thefcrank'throw. To prokeyed to a shefteairrying piniens l2| which, in.

turn, engage thetoothed racks 22.- -'Ihe llength of travel of thesliding sheet-separatorv I0 is ad- .pdrted upon a slidably mounted rack 36. Vstijaiiegiit line movement of the member 4 is promovement about its pivot 3 I which latter is sup- The aceirby timeddrivins mechanism wmpsing a crank 33,c`arrying on one arm a cam follower 33a justable according to the width of the 'sheets or overr'u'nfsrthlupperedge 23 of the sheet-stack at the extremity 'of itsupward movement,v and the 65. edge' 24 off'tiie stackat the extremity 'of its ment ef the' crank' vI"6"in"^ a groove 26 provided in tiie'ieriinkl f dise z5 whereby the thwof the link "mechanism is modified. The extreme upper posi- ,tion'v ofth sheet' sepaator'is' set and 'nius't not be varied, therefore its travel is adjusted by a corresponding adjustmentof the length of the conadapted toengage the cam 32. The other arm of the; crank 33' is 1inked, by means ofv a connect'-l in'g rod34 to a toothed segment 35 which latter is in engagement with the slidable rack 36 and is mounted upon a shaft 35d joui-nailed on the frame oi the machine.

The oscillating movement of the member (i is obtained'4 through a similartimed driving`mechanism eomprising a cam 31 mounted on' the shaft I'I, a pivoted crankcarrying on .one arm a cam follower 38a and linked at its other arm by means of a connecting rod 39 to a, balance lever lic which is .pivotally supported at 3l from the member and carries the suction pipe S0 and suction nozzles 28.

t the end of the straight sheet engaging movement vof the member 4, the suction nozzles 28 'andtensioning segments 2Q (Fig.' 1). pass vbetween the uppersheet supporting bars I2 and engage the outermost sheet of the stack I which rests on the tensioning segniq'eri-t 29 in such a' manner the nozzle Aen'd lies at on the lower vfili section,'as shown in Fig. 3. In this position the siicuen nozzles seize 'the sneetedjacentfto the folded upper edge (Fig. 3). While the "sheet is thus held the sheet'separator I II Ais performing an' upward movement.- 'As the upper edge Ita of the slot 12j-'overruns the upper folded edge of the sheet, the member 4 swings-into thepcsition shown in Fig. 4 and thereby draws the folded edge of the sheet throughjthe slot I3 provided.A between the upper and lower extremities of the member I2. The sheet separator lat this perlod reaches the end of its upward stroke and commences to move downwardly.

Before the upper edge IM of the slot I3 in the sheet separator reaches duringfits down-- Ward movement the folded edge of the adjacent sheet or section, an upper retaining rake 4 I (Fig. 4) swings into the clearance formed by the removal of the' outer s'heet'iii order to hold the upper edge of the adjacent section away from the moving bars I2, as shown in Fig. 4. During the continued downward movement of the sheet separator III, the separation of the outer sheet takes I rupted 'whilethe sheet separator makes a slower downward movement and a return oscillating movement of' the sucker member is performed aosaesa The member 4 now completesits return move-1- ment while still retaining the upper edge of the sheet l.and swings over the previous Tsuction posidon-so as to position-'the sheet-anime inclined' 'before theremaind'r of--the -sheet rests thereon closed during their' transport.'-

L To" assist in the "support '10! the lower edge of the stack a lower lretaining rake 43 (Figs. 4 and 6) t is provided to lift at the beginning ofthe upward movement oi?A the sheet' separator `Il) the vlower' edge of the stack awayfrom-the supporting bars l2v .with the object of 'giving-the centre portion of the stack afmore positive'suppo'rt on`the sup r porting bars-and also to hold'the lower edge of the `stack away fromithe edge i4` of 'the upwardly moving slot I3, as shownin Fig.

The upper retaining rake 4I is actuated by a cam, 44 mounted -on the drive shaft i1, a pivoted crank 45 engaging the cam 44 and-linked by means of a connecting rod 45 to one arm of' an angular lever 41, aconnecting rod 48', linking the second arm of the lever 41 to a further lever 49 mounted en the shaft l35a and linkedtoan arcuate slotted cam'guide 50.' f i The Aslotted cam guide 59 supports theupper retaining rake and engages a guide roller 50a whereby the rake 4| fis guided closely'over the folded upper edgeoff-the' sheetl adjacent the outer sheet.: Thef'lowerretainingrake 43' isV similarly actuated by the cam Bi'mounted on the shaft i l. a pivoted'crank V52 adapted toV engag'ethe arm and connected by means of a link 53 tofa pivoted angular lever. 54 which in turn is secured to a connecting rod '55 which` serves to-'rock the member 43 about the pivot 43a.- As the'lower retaining rake 43-must beacusted mutually= with the lower stack support 5 the tierod 55 is adjustably connected to the angular lever 54 as at 56 (Fig. 1),.

In order to control the suction periods of the sheet seizing members 4 'the -control 58 (Fig. 1) in the main vacuum pipe-51 (Fig. 1) -is interposed in a manner known per se.- The actuation ot the pneumatic control- 551s eiectedfrom the main drive by means comprising a cam drive shaft 59; a cam-60 mounted thereon, a pivote'd crank 6i,

adaptedwto engage the cam 50 and linked `to the control 58 by means of a connecting ro'd 62,'

In the modified construction of the isheet' separating mechanism shown' in Fig. 7. the

slidable sheet-separator I0 is actuated 4by a link mechanism which comprises a lever 63' pivoted at one extremity 64 tothe frame .of`

the machine and'connected at its further ex.

tremity to the member i'by means-of alink S5. The lever 53 is provided, intermediate its length, with a projecting .arm 66' which 'is con.

' nected, by" means of the connecting rod i8, to

driving means including 'an adjustable crank i6 similar to that above described. Adjusting mechanism 2l also similar -to that above described, isassociated with' theconnectingmd I8 in orderv A further modified construction-fof the-sheet separatingmechanism is shown in Fig. 8. Ac-

: cording to this 'modiiied construction. the slidable" sheet-separator i0 is reciprocated tromacrank drive through a link mechanism which is provided iw'ith simplined means for adjusting the length of :travel of the member I0. The link comprises arod or-link 61 which is connected at its'lower" extremity to a" crank drive 88, .andat its upper' extremityl pivotally connected toa" slotted lever 69; The latter member is pivoted' at one extremity to the frame ot the machine 'and hasv the lower end 10a. of a second link 1o adiustabiy engaged im the arcuate slotted portion thereof. 'I'he upper end o'f the link 1 0 is pivotally connected to the adjacent upper'end ofthe member' IU 'and thus serves to actuate'the latter. 'Obviously' by this arrangement thetrave'l oi' the memberl I0' may be ad- ,usted' by altering the 'point-of engagement of the end 10u j f the link 10 with the Slotted memberss.. 1

'The invention lsnot limited't'o' the manner of 20- operation more specicaily described above since it isobvious that'this' method of separating the outer sheet from a stack'may be applied in many ways.A VThe mechanism could be suitably arranged to separate the sheets upwardly from the vstack 25'- or, "if desired, arranged to operate in the lateral direction of the stack.

The component parts of the mechanism which, generally, have been described as single membersfma'y comprises. series of such members for 30 each unit while the separating' mechanism as a whole is applicable as al single unit or in a series of mechanically' timed'units for' use" in sheethandling machines provided with banks of sheet 35 containersas is well known in the art.

1.01m: A i ,v

'l'.'Automatic sheet-separating` apparatus comprising Va stack container, a movable wall forming' part "of said stack container and provided with a 'slot 'transverse to itsfdirection vof travel. means I for' moving the 'said' wall sothat the said slot thereinpasses 'acrss'the'u'pper and lower edges' o1' the sheet to Abe separated frein the stack, means for registringtlie sainlslot'viithone edge of'` thusalfd' sheet, means for bending the said sheet edge outwardly through the slot, and means for Vholding-said sheet edge substantially immovablewhile said Wallis moved to complete the separation of the' said sheet from the stack.

` 2E Automatic vsheet-serial@atingapparatus comprisin'g a sheet stackcontainer supported edgewise and' inclined to the vertical, a movable slotted sheetLsepaiating member forming part of the said stack container,4 means .for moving the said' sheet separatmg member sonnet the' slot therein registelfwith the lippe? edge of the outer sheet'ofthe stack, 4'1ir1ean'sv-finengagingand retaining "in close 4fox'rnatgion tl'iefadjacent lower edgesof the stack or sheets,m'ean. s '!fo1 engaging and drawing through the slot in the s'aid sheet separating member lthe upper edge of theouter shet'of thestack. means f or engaging and retaining in' close formation the upp'lf edges of the remaining sheets of the stack, and means for completing the separation ofthe said outer sheet from the stack.

3f vAutomaticsheet-separating apparatus comprising a sheet stack container supported edgewise'and inclined to the vertical, a movable slotted sheetfseparating memberformingpart of the said stack container. means,for moving the said y sheet separating member so that the slot thereinA registers with the lower-edge of the outer sheet of thegstack.fmean s. for "engaging and re- 'taining in close formation the upper edges of the stack of sheets, means for engaging and drawing through `the slot in theA said sheet separating member the lower edge of the outer sheet oi' the stack, means for engaging and retaining in posi- .'sald sheet separating member the folded edge of a sheet to be separated from the stack, an endless belt sheet-conveyor, means for passing .the whole of-the sheet through the said slot, and means for imparting a secondary movement to thesaid sheet seizing members whereby the separated sheet is held in an inclinedposition above the said sheet conveyor so that the open edges of the said sheet contact with the said'1 conveyor in advance of the remainder of .the sheet, and means for depositing the said sheet upon the said conveyor belt.

5. vAutomatic sheet-separating apparatus comprising, in combination, a stack container adapt- 'ed to-support a stack of sheets positioned edge- Wise and inclined to the vertical, a sliding sheetseparating member forming one wall ofthe stack container and comprising a frame slidably -mounted in side. guides and provided with twoseries of bars spaced apart at their opposed extremities to form an opening, means for reciprocating the said sheet separating member, one or more sheet seizing members supported; by guide members and adapted to pass through the opening in the said sheet separating member to seize .one edge of the outer sheet oi' the stack, means for actuating thesaid sheet-seizing members,

-pivotally mounted upper retaining lingers adapted to engage and to retain in'position the upper edges of the stacked sheets, pivotally mounted lower retaining ngers adapted to engage and. to

retain in position theflower `edges of the stacked sheets, a. sheet conveyor, means foi-timing the movement of the sheet-seizing members to draw the seized sheet edge through the slot, means for timing the movement of the said sheet-separatmember to complete the separation of the seized sheet, and means for imparting a downward. movement to said sheet-seizing means to lay the separatedsbeet upon -the said sheet con- Y veyor.

' .l Automatic-sheet separating apparatus, comprising, in combination, a stack container adapted lio-.support a stack oi' sheets positioned edge@ .wise and inclined to the-vertical, a slotted sneetseparating memberfi'ormingon'e .wall oi? the said stack .container .and 'slidably mounted in side guides, one or more toothed racks forming part -oi =the said sheet-separating member, pinion wheels mounted on a rotatableshait and'adapted to.- engage the said racks. associated pinion wheels mounted on the said shalt, arcuate rack members adapted to engage the associated pinv ions, timed driving means for actuating the said arcuatey racks, one or more suction members mounted upon a common suction pipe pivotally supported by slide members mounted in stationv ary guides, atoothed rack associated with each .supporting slide member, a pivotally mounted toothed segment member adapted to engage the said toothedlrack, timed means for rocking the .said toothed segment about its pivot, pivotally aosaese mounted lower sheet-edge retaining ilngers,

`timed means for actuating the said retaining iincontainer, a slotted 4sheet-separating member slidably mounted in side-guides and adapted to form one wall of the said container, link members pivotally attached to the said sheet separating member, secondary link members each pivoted at one extremity to themachine frame and pivotally connected at'the oppositeextremities to the iirst mentioned link members, a crank drive, adjustable connecting rodsgbetweenthe said secondarylink members and said crank drive, sheet seizing members mounted on a common suction pipe, means for pivotally supporting the said pipe on slide members mounted in slotted guides, timed--link-driving mechanism, means for connecting the said slide members to the said timed link-driving mechanism, upper sheet-edge retaining members, means for actuating the said retaining members, lower--sheet-edge retaining members, means for actuating the said lower sheet-edge retaining members, a sheet conveyor. and means for depositing' upon the said sheet conveyor the sheets separated from the stack.

8. ,Automatic sheet-separating apparatus comprising, in combination, a .machine frame, a stack container, a movable slotted vsheet-separating member slidably mounted in side guides and adapted to form one wall of the said container, linked driving mechanism adapted to reciprocate the said sheet-separating member'and comprising atleastone slotted link member pivoted at one extremity upon-..the frame of the machine, 'a connecting rod pivotally secured at oneextremity to the sheet-separating member and having its further extremity pivotally secured in an adjustable manner to .the s1otted.'link member,

a driving crank-rod pivotally secured at one extremity to a driving crank and pivotally secured-at its further ,extremity to the said slotted link member, means for passing the outer sheet of a stack through the slot in the said'sheet-separating member, a sheet conveyor, and means for depositing upon the said sheet-conveyor the separated sheet.

9. A method of mechanicallyseparating individual sheets, book sections or the like from'v a stack, which includes positioning in a plane adjacent the plane oi' the outer sheet of the stack a4 sheet separating member provided with an opening. passmg by 'mechanical means an edge of the outer 'sheet through the opening in the sheet separating membenand then holding said sheet edge substantially immovable relatively to the remainder of the stack while movement is imparted to the said sheet separating member to cause the remainder of the outer sheet to pass through the opening therein.

' 10. A method of mechanically separating individuai sheets, book-sections or the like from a stack, which includes placing the stack in a container inclined to the vertical, positioning in aplane adjacent the plane of the outer sheet of the stack a sheetseparating member provided with an opening, passing by mechanical means an edge of the outer sheet through the opening in the sheet separating member, and then holding said sheet edge substantially immovable relatively to the remainder of the stack while movement is imparted to said sheet separating -member to cause the remainder ofthe outer-sheet to pass through the opening in said separating member.

11. Automatic sheet-separating apparatus comprising Aa stack container, a movable wall forming part of the said stack container, and providedwith a slot, means for positioning the said wall so that the slot provided therein registers with one edge of the sheet to be separated, means for passing the said edge of the sheet through the said'slt and holding said sheet edge substantially immovable relatively to the remainder of the stack, and means for moving the said wall so that the slot therein passes over the entire surface of the said sheet so lield' to separate the latter from the stack.

12. Automatic sheet-separating apparatus comprising a stationary stack container'inclined to the vertical, a movable slotted sheet separating member forming part ofthe said stack container, means for engaging and drawing through the slot in the said sheet separating member an edge of the outer sheet of the stack, means for moving the-said' sheet separating member in order to complete the separation of the outer-sheet, and means for retaining in close formation the adjacent edges of the remaining sheets of the stack so that the advancing edge-of the slot does not engage said sheet edges'so held.

13. Automatic sheet-separating apparatus comprising a ,stack container, a movable wall provided with a slot and forming partof said container, 'at least one sheet-seizing lmember, means for causing said sheet-seizing member to enter the slot in saidm'ovable container wall to draw' therethrough one edge ofthe sheet to be separated from a stack supported in said container, and means for moving said wall between said stack andysaid sheet-seizing member, to complete the separation of the sheet held'by said ysheet-seizing member.

14. Automatic sheet-separating apparatus comprising a stack container, a movable wall provided with aslot and formingpart of said container, at least one sheet-seizing member, means for causing said sheet-seizing member to enter the slot lin said movable container wall to draw therethrough one edge of the sheet tov be separated from a stack supported in said container, and means for imparting alinear reciprocating movement to said wall so that it moves between said stack and said sheet-seizing member to complete the separation of the sheetI held by said sheet-seizing member; l

15. Automatic sheet-separating apparatus comprising a stack container, asmovable wallprovided with a slot and forming part of said container, atleast one sheet-seizing member adapted to pass through said slot to seize one edge of the sheet to be'separated from a stack supported in said container, means for imparting a secondary movement to said sheet-seizingA member whereby the edge of said sheet is bent away from thev stack and the path of movement of saidv container. 4at .least one Sheet-seizingy member1 means-fon moving said slieet-seizinmmember` in al substantiailylinear path olmovement through the slot inysaid-.movablewall ,to seize one edges! the sheetto` be Separated, ,means .for ,imparting a, secondary. rotary movementto said sheet-seize ing member in ordepto, bend. thev edge o! said sheet outwardly through the. Slot .in said, wall, and means for moving said Wallto complete the separation of said sheet from thestack. ;v

17. Automatic .sheet-separating. apparatus. comprising a stack container, a movable wallprovided with a slot andl forming parto! said container, at least,onesheet-seizingmember, means for moving'said sheet-,seizing member in a substantially linear path .otmovement through the slot in lsaicl movable wall toseizeoneedge yof the v sheet to bel separated. means for imparting a secondary rotary movement to said sheet-seizing member in order to bend the edgeof said sheet outwardly through theslot .in said wall, means for engaging and retainingin close formation the adjacent sheet edges of .the stack, and means for movingsaid walito complete the separation 25 rated from a stack supported in saidcontainen vided with a slotandforming partv of said con tainer, at 1east ,one sheet-seizingA member, means for causing said ,sheet-seizing member to enter the slot in saidmovable container walll to .draw therethrough one edge of the. sheet to be sepal rated from a stack supported in saidcontainer.

means for' engaging and retaining in, closefor-f mation the adjacent sheet edges of the stack. and means for imparting a linear reciprocating move.- ment to said wall so that it`moves between said stack and said sheet-seizing member to complete the separation of the sheet held by said sheetsei'zing member.

20. Automatic vsheet-separating apparatus Acomprising a stack container, amovable .wall provided with a slot and. forming part of said container, at least one sheet-seizing member adapted to pass through said slot to seize one edge of the sheet to be separated from a stack supported in said container, means' for imparting a secondary movement to saidsheet-seizing member whereby the edge of said sheet is bent away from the stack and the path o f movement4 of said slotted wall, meansl for engaging and retaining in close formation theadjacent sh'et edges of the stack, and means for moving said wall between saidstack and said sheet-seizing member to complete the separation of the sheet Jheld by said sheet-seizing member. A 1

21. Automatic sheet-separatin apparatus comprising a'stationary stack container, a movable wall provided with a slot and forming part of said container, at iet one sheet-seizing memapparatus ber mounted independently of said container wall, means for causing said sheet-seizing memberlto enter the slot in the movable container wall to draw therethrough one edge of the sheet .to be separated from a stack supported in said container, and means for moving said movable wall of.l the container subsequently to complete the separation ot said sheet.

- 22. Automatic sheet-separating apparatus comprising a stationary stack container, a movable wall provided with a slot and forming part of said container, means for imparting reciprocatory movement tovsaid movable wall relative to the stack of sheets-supported in said container, at least one sheet-seizing member mounted independently of said container wall, and means for causing said sheet-seizing member to enter the slot in the movable container wall to engage and draw. therethrough one edge of an outer sheet of the stack, the separation o! which sheet is completed by the subsequent movement of said container wall.

23. Automatic sheet-separating apparatus comprising a, stationary stack container, a movable wall provided with a slot and forming part ot said container, at least one sheet-seizing' member mounted independently o! said container wall, means for causing said sheet-seizing member to enter the'slot in said movable container wall to draw therethrough one edge of the sheet to be separated from a stack supported in said 24. Automatic-sheet-separating apparatus comprising a stationary stack container, a movable wallprovided with a slot and forming part .of

saidcontainer, at least one sheet-seizing member mounted independently of saidcontainer wall, means for causing said sheet-seizing m'ember to enter the slot in said movable container v wall to draw therethrough one4 edge of the sheet mounted independently of saidwall and arranged' topass throughsaid slot to seize one edge of the sheet to be separated from a stack supported in said container,means for-imparting a secondary vmovement ,to said sheet-seizing member whereby the' edge of said Vsheet is bent away from the stack andthe. path or movement of said slotted wall, and means f for moving said vvwall betweenv said stack and said sheet-seizing member to complete the separation of the sheet while the latter is vheld by said sheet-seizing member. 26. Automatic sheet-separating comprising a stationary stack container, a mov- `able wan prbvidedmtn a slot .and vruiming part of said container, at least one sheet-seizing member mounted independently of said wall, means l for moving said sheet-seizing member in a substantially linear path 'of movement through the slot in said movable wali to seize one edge of the' sheet to be. separated, means for imparting a secondary rotary movement to said sheet-seizing apparatus member in order to bend the edge of said sheet outwardly through the slot in said wall', and means for moving said wall to complete the separation of said sheet. from the stack while said l sheet is held by said Asheet-seizing member. Y 5

2'1. Automatic sheet-separating comprising a stack container having a oor adapted to support a stack of sheets placed edgewise thereon, a movable wall provided with a slot apparatus f and forming partl of said container, at least one 10 sheet-seizing member, means lfor passing said sheet-seizing member. through the slot in said movable wall to seize one edge of the sheet to be separated, separate means for imparting a secondary movement to said sheet-seizing member 15 whereby said edge of the sheet is bent outwardly through the slot in the movablewall, and means for displacing said slotted wall relatively to said ration of said sheet. 28. Automatic sheet-separating provided with a slot and forming a wall of said 25 container, means for intermittently displacing said sheet-separating member relatively to said container oor and said stack of sheets supported by the latter so that the slotted portion ci said and lower vedges of the sheet to be separated, means for varying the extent of movement of said sheet-separatingmember according tothe size of said sheets.- and means carried independently oi sheet-separating member passes across the upper 30 the sheet-seiparating member for passing an edge g5 ofthe said sheet through the slot in said sheetseparating member during the intermittent movements ofthe latter.

29. Automatic sheet-separating apparatus comprising a stack container having an adjusto able floor arranged to support a pile of sheets placed edgewise thereon, a movable slotted sheetseparatingmember forming a wall lof said stack container, means for readily adjusting the position of said iloor relatively to said sheet-separating member, means for intermittently moving said sheet-separating member so that the slotted portion thereof passes over the entire area -of the sheet to be separated, means foradiusting the means for passing one edge of the sheetltcbe separated through the slot in said sheet-separator during the movements of the latter.

30. Automatic sheet-separating apparatus comprising a stack container having .a floor arranged to'support astack of sheets placed edgewise thereon, a movable slotted sheet-separating member forming a wall of said stack container, means for engaging the upper edge of the outer sheet of the stack and .drawing said sheet-edge through the slot in said sheet-separating member, means for retaining in close formation the` upper edges oi' the remaining sheets ofthe stack,

.and means for moving said sheet-separating member relatively to said containeriloor and the i complete 'stack supported on -the latter in order to the separation of the outer sheet.

31. Automatic sheet-separating apparatus comprising, iny combination, Aa j stack `container having adjustable side walls and-'an adiustabl 70. v I

bottom, a slotted sheet-separating member form-- ingpart of the said stack container and'slidably mounted in guide me bers, means for reciprocating in the said guide the saldsneet separating member, retaining lingers adapted to engage the t,

v-ltravel of said sheet-separating member, and 50 aosaeaa upper edges of the sheets stacked in the container, further retaining fingers adapted to engage the lower edges of the sheets stacked in the container,

a sheet conveyor, sheet-seizing members adapted to pass through the slot in the sheet-separatingmember and to seize one edge of the outer sheet of the stack, and means for actuating the said sheet-seizing members to draw the seized sheet edge through the said slot away fromthe upper sheet retaining fingers and the remaining sheets retained thereby and deposit the seized sheet on the conveyor.

` 32. Automatic sheet-separating apparatus comprising a stack container having a floor adapted to support a stack of sheets placed edge- Wise thereon, a movable wall provided with a slot -and forming part of said container, at least one sheet-seizing member, means for causing said vsheet-seizing member to enter the slot in the -edge of the sheet to be separated from a stack supported in said container, and means for moving said movable wall ot the containerrelatively to said sheet stack, said floor and sheet-seizing member subsequently to complete the separation of said sheet.

33. Automatic sheet-separating apparatus comprising a stack container, having a floor adapted to support a stack o! sheets placed edgewise thereon, a movable wall provided with a slot and forming -part of 'said container, means for imparting reclprocatory movement to said movable wall relative to the stack of sheets supported in said container, at least one sheet-seizing member, and means for causing said sheet-seizing member to. enter the slot in the movable container wall to engage and draw therethrough one edge of an outer sheet of the stack, 'and means for displacing said slotted wall relatively to said sheet stack, said oor and sheet-seizing member to complete the separation of said sheet'.

RUDOLF K12-EMM., 

